School EU referendum debate gives students the chance to air their views
Did Leave take the limelight? Or was it a Remain-ian rhapsody?
Tensions were high on the Tuesday before the Referendum vote as students from all years gathered eagerly into the main hall of Heathfield Community College to debate whether we should vote to stay, or exit, the European Union.
Huw Merriman - Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle and our local MP - chaired the debate, situated between four Leave panellists to his right, and four Remain panellists to his left, from years 10 and 12.
Remain commenced the debate with four strong pitches concerning the ‘unifying force’ of the EU; the ‘fundamentally racist’ ideologies of the Leave campaign; and the idea of ‘power, prosperity and peace’ if we were to stay inside the EU. All four panellists delivered their pitches ardently and passionately, capturing the audience in a persuasive and inoffensive manner. Each member of the panel focussed on a particular issue, and, especially when regarding the educational benefits of remaining, they seemed to hook their audience, given the majority of individuals watching the debate were seventeen or under, therefore directly targeting these people.
When the final Remain panellist concluded a confident and passionate pitch, the debate was passed over to the Leave side. The first panellist attempted to put the audience into the shoes of a victim of human trafficking with an emotive introduction to the Leave campaign, putting a twist on the typical style of persuasive debate. The following panellists claimed the EU was ‘fundamentally undemocratic’ and an institution dictated by ‘bureaucratic elites’ - the focus of much of their arguments being largely based on industry, economics and patriotism. Similarly to Remain, these were delivered powerfully and confidently, and all students express a wide range of data-based knowledge to back up their views.
After both sides clearly outlined their arguments, the audience were then given the opportunity to participate in the debate. The first question from an audience member concerned the controversial topic of the age of voting, asking why sixteen year olds are not allowed to vote in a referendum that will fundamentally affect them most of all. The question was put to the Leave side, where a panellist proposed that if the voting age had been lowered, it would also have to be lowered for the next general election. Remain quickly retaliated by claiming that this referendum will affect the younger generations most of all, and many young people have a large amount of political knowledge that older generations do not expect of them.
The students participating impressed their audiences and Mr Merriman with their understanding of the issues involved in the Referendum and with their level of articulacy.
Lucy Powderly, Year 12
Tensions were high on the Tuesday before the Referendum vote as students from all years gathered eagerly into the main hall of Heathfield Community College to debate whether we should vote to stay, or exit, the European Union.
Huw Merriman - Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle and our local MP - chaired the debate, situated between four Leave panellists to his right, and four Remain panellists to his left, from years 10 and 12.
Remain commenced the debate with four strong pitches concerning the ‘unifying force’ of the EU; the ‘fundamentally racist’ ideologies of the Leave campaign; and the idea of ‘power, prosperity and peace’ if we were to stay inside the EU. All four panellists delivered their pitches ardently and passionately, capturing the audience in a persuasive and inoffensive manner. Each member of the panel focussed on a particular issue, and, especially when regarding the educational benefits of remaining, they seemed to hook their audience, given the majority of individuals watching the debate were seventeen or under, therefore directly targeting these people.
When the final Remain panellist concluded a confident and passionate pitch, the debate was passed over to the Leave side. The first panellist attempted to put the audience into the shoes of a victim of human trafficking with an emotive introduction to the Leave campaign, putting a twist on the typical style of persuasive debate. The following panellists claimed the EU was ‘fundamentally undemocratic’ and an institution dictated by ‘bureaucratic elites’ - the focus of much of their arguments being largely based on industry, economics and patriotism. Similarly to Remain, these were delivered powerfully and confidently, and all students express a wide range of data-based knowledge to back up their views.
After both sides clearly outlined their arguments, the audience were then given the opportunity to participate in the debate. The first question from an audience member concerned the controversial topic of the age of voting, asking why sixteen year olds are not allowed to vote in a referendum that will fundamentally affect them most of all. The question was put to the Leave side, where a panellist proposed that if the voting age had been lowered, it would also have to be lowered for the next general election. Remain quickly retaliated by claiming that this referendum will affect the younger generations most of all, and many young people have a large amount of political knowledge that older generations do not expect of them.
The students participating impressed their audiences and Mr Merriman with their understanding of the issues involved in the Referendum and with their level of articulacy.
Lucy Powderly, Year 12